Chief Advancement Officer

COMMUNITIES IN SCHOOLS OF THE DALLAS REGION

About The Position

The Chief Advancement Officer (CAO) will lead the philanthropic revenue growth and build a comprehensive development program and marketing plan for Communities In Schools of the Dallas Region (CIS Dallas). This role will report to the Chief Executive Officer and will be an integral part of the leadership team working across all departments to support the CIS Dallas mission and grow the CIS Dallas Endowment. The role will lead a team focused on all fundraising efforts including donor development, major gifts, corporate sponsorships, grant writing, annual giving, capital campaigns, event planning, and volunteer efforts. If you have a strong desire to work within a mission-centric organization that empowers students to stay in school and achieve in life, then Communities In Schools of the Dallas Region wants to meet you!

Requirements

Knowledge of donor database management (preferably Raiser’s Edge) and Salesforce
Strong understanding of donor engagement, stewardship, and fund-raising best practices
Excellent communication, relationship-building, and leadership skills
Demonstrated ability to effectively manage and prioritize multiple tasks and responsibilities to meet established deadlines in a fast-paced environment
Adaptable to frequent interruptions and shifting priorities while maintaining productivity
Ability to design, market, and promote programs that engage donors, stakeholders, and the community
Build and maintain strong relationships with school administration, employees, and the public to support organizational goals
Ability to analyze and use data to develop and implement donor engagement activities Skill in planning and organizing.
Build and maintain strong relationships with school administration, employees, and the public to support organizational goals
Ability to lift, carry and otherwise move up to 15 pounds on a regular basis
Ability to sit, stand, bend, kneel, reach, push, pull, or walk for various lengths of time throughout the day
Ability to utilize computer, software, and general office equipment to complete daily work responsibilities
Inside work in an office environment with no exposure to weather conditions
Reliable transportation is a must to travel for meetings, agency trainings and other miscellaneous work assignments
Bachelor's degree from an accredited college or university, plus ten (10) years of non-profit experience, with at least seven (7) years of experience directly related to the job.
Tangible experience of having expanded and cultivated existing donor relationships over time
Demonstrated experience raising funds for an institution with a budget of at least $10 million
Demonstrated ability to lead and cultivate a team of professionals

Nice To Haves

Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE) Preferred, but not required

Responsibilities

Lead the creation, implementation, and evaluation of a multi-year fundraising strategy that includes diverse revenue streams and is tracked by clearly defined goals, objectives, timelines, and tactics
Design strategies for the cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of individual, corporate, and foundation gifts
Monitor and research grant and funding opportunities at the local, state, and federal levels to secure sustainable financial support
Manage Advancement Team calendar to ensure all opportunities are identified and planned for accordingly and create consistency and transparency across the team
Collaborate with the executive leadership team to project annual revenue goals and define annual fundraising priorities as they relate to the organization’s strategic priorities
Oversee the development of a major gifts program to ensure appropriate benchmarks are established and met
Provide needed support for prospect identification and solicitation, campaign materials development, and a strategy for ensuring that campaign goals are met
Design and execute all fundraising events including the annual golf tournament and upcoming 40th Anniversary campaign and events
Perform monthly revenue reconciliation in order to ensure financial accountability and provide progress updates to the CEO, Advancement Committee, and Board
Engage with the Board of Directors and leadership team to drive advancement initiatives and secure strategic partnerships
Create the annual departmental budget and revenue plan, and track budgeted vs. actual expenditures
Provide research and feedback to President/CEO regarding national, regional and local philanthropic activity, recommending best course of action to maneuver and engage donors.
Review all award/decline letters and correspondence to ensure compliance with giving parameters, as well as identifying opportunities for improvement.
Build on a foundation of existing donors and relationships and identify new prospects and donors with additional capacity to increase giving
Manage a portfolio of at least 30 active major donors with targeted efforts to increase the number of major donors each year to support each area of the strategic plan
Provide support to the CEO and executive team members in their work with major donors
Identify new opportunities to engage and involve current and potential donors and volunteers
Engage with the Board of Directors and leadership team to drive advancement initiatives and secure strategic partnerships
Represent CIS Dallas in all community, civic, and other engagements that provide an opportunity to the CIS Dallas mission and generate interest in investing in CIS financially and through community partnerships
Oversee brand strategy, public relations, digital presence, and external communications to enhance visibility and engagement.
Work closely with Public Relations firm to identify and execute opportunities to increase CIS Dallas visibility across all media
Provide leadership, management, and support to the full Advancement Team, directly supervising four (4) full time staff (Marketing and Communications Director, Development Director, Donor Relations Manager, Community Partnerships and Volunteerism Director)
Lead staff through an annual performance management plan, monitoring progress toward goals and fostering staff development and a growth mindset
Collaborate with the Chief Executive Officer to support the work of the Nominating and Governance Committee, including the identification and onboarding of new board prospects